Knowledge and Biblical Prophecy

Israel’s prophets communicate knowledge of both the present future and eschatological future. The majority of prophetic literature concerns the present future and consists of prophetic calls to return to proper observance of the Law or face punishment. Through such discussions of the present future, the prophets rely on divinely inspired, experiential knowledge of the Torah to state the inevitable consequences of failing acknowledge one’s role in God’s plan (e.g., the oracles against the nations in Amos). In contrast, eschatological prophecy predicts events of the future, communicating divine knowledge that God shared with the prophet. This type of prophecy often is intended to reassure the righteous that God will restore them—often within their lifetime. The “last days” aspect of eschatological prophecy plays a much smaller role within the books of the Bible, typically appearing only in apocalyptic or preapocalyptic literature (e.g., Ezek 40–48; Dan 10–12; Rev 21–22), some New Testament texts (e.g., Matt 24:43; 1 Cor 1:5–8; 2 Cor 1:14; Phil 1:6), and in Second Temple deuterocanonical and pseudepigraphal works.